Dean of the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) welcomes applications and nominations for the position of Dean of the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters (DFSCAL). FAU is a culturally diverse and dynamic public research university located in southeast Florida at the gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America.

The Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, or DFSCAL includes the arts, humanities and social sciences. The college is nationally and internationally recognized for the outstanding educational experience it offers and the energizing role it plays in the community. It prepares students to mindfully and productively engage the challenges of the 21st Century and works toward the betterment of the region, nation, and world through its scholarly research and creative productivity.

DFSCAL is comprised of a dedicated faculty of 215 distinguished scholars, researchers, and artists across 12 academic departments that offer 22 bachelor’s degrees, 17 minors, 12 certificate programs and 19 graduate degrees—including a Ph.D. in Comparative Studies—that combine the best of a traditional liberal arts education with cutting-edge instruction in emerging fields. The College serves the most students at FAU in terms of FTE or SCH productivity. It houses honors programs in several majors; and students across the college are engaged in independent faculty-supervised projects. Faculty members include award winning authors, Fulbright scholars, Guggenheim Fellows, Lannan Foundation Fellows, Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award winners, O. Henry and Pushcart award recipients, South Florida Cultural Consortium recipients in visual and media arts, Grammy award recipients, and critically acclaimed artists and performers. DFSCAL offers community members world-class performances, exhibitions, screenings, and public lectures. Facilities include a 500-seat University Theatre, smaller theatres, two art galleries, four additional shared theatre spaces, and other performance and teaching spaces across campus. More information about the college can be found at http://www.fau.edu/artsandletters/.

The new Dean will be the chief academic and administrative officer of the College, reporting to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. On the University level, the Dean will provide leadership for the College by working with faculty, students, staff, alumni and other key stakeholders to support the university’s strategic plan, The Race to Excellence, which leverages the intersections and common strengths among the university’s many departments. On the College level, with a strong commitment to shared governance, the Dean will play a key role in defining College participation in the plan’s interdisciplinary, strategic Pillars and Platforms, and provide leadership that supports continued excellence in artistic expression, performance, research and teaching. The new dean will also continue the advancement of innovation and fundraising, and increase the College’s financial resources. For more information, please find the complete leadership profile at www.wittkieffer.com.

Inquiries, nominations and applications are invited. The candidate must possess a terminal degree in a discipline related to one of the academic departments of the college, and have a record of distinguished scholarship and teaching that would support an appointment at the rank of full professor with tenure in a department within the College. The candidate must have extensive and recent administrative experience in a higher education context, strong interpersonal skills, and a commitment to fundraising and collegial decision-making. Review of applications has begun and will continue until the position is filled; for optimum consideration, materials should be received by Friday, March 24, 2017. Candidates should provide a resume, a letter of application that addresses the responsibilities and requirements described in this leadership profile, and the names and contact information of five references. References will not be contacted without prior knowledge and approval of candidates. These materials should be sent electronically via e-mail to Florida Atlantic University’s consultants Lucy A. Leske, Concetta M. Stewart, Ph.D., and Robert W. Luke at FAUDeanDFSCAL@wittkieffer.com.